Earlier in the day, French news agency AFP reported that Beijing had accused Washington of "erroneous" claims that China tacitly condones forced labor. The US has even launched an official investigation into the matter. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the probe was "discriminatory" and nothing more than an attempt at "trade manipulation."
At the same time, President Donald Trump threatened to delay a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned for later this month unless Xi agrees to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic in the key waterway for oil tankers has come to an almost complete standstill due to the US and Israel-led war on Iran. Beijing relies on oil from the Middle East for much of its energy.